Yoga is a Hindu discipline
aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight
and tranquility. It is a system of exercises practiced as part of this
discipline to promote, control of the body and mind. It is said that knowledge
of yoga is needed for the efficacy of the mantra. If the devotee would keep
himself fit and maintain his diet, he would never fall ill and could complete
his purascharan.

The yogic disciplines are
the ones that go to the very source of the problems, they can be the most
difficult to practice for the majority of people, who just expect the
astrologer to give him some quick and easy solution, a magic formulae, whereas
the yogic remedies require a change of lifestyle and rigorous discipline sustained
over a long period of time.

It is like in a case of a
person suffering from cough goes to a doctor and ask for a remedy. The good
doctor tells him: “quit smoking and do breathing exercises every day”. But the
patient doesn’t want to give up his habit and looks for another doctor who just
gives him a cough pill.

There is nothing wrong
with the cough pills, but in that case it doesn’t go to the source of the
problem. In the same way, all human problems are caused by the fact of not
being aware and in tune with their Soul or divine nature. This is called
spiritual ignorance, which is the cause of all karmas and wrong actions which
lead to pain either in this life or on a future one. When we see an afflicting
planet on a birth chart, it is showing something we have done wrong on the past
lives and we need to acknowledge and change in this life. The affecting planets are in fact, teachers. It is the role of
Jyotish to recognize the afflicting planets and their associated karmas to
prescribe the right discipline.

Each afflicted or
afflicting Planet is showing a need to learn certain lesson or to strength
certain aspect of the mind and personality.

Understanding that is the
key to the use of astrology as a healing path.

The devotee is advised to
follow the steps as indicated in the yoga
tantra for prayer, recitation of mantra, and attaining siddhi of the mantra yantra and any other classical method as told
in this book. This process is described in ashtaang
yoga. The efficacy of the mantras depends on power to control the desires
and five senses which could be attained through yam. The other pillar for efficacy of mantra is niyam (regularity) which could be
achieved through yoga only. They are very much part of ashtaang yoga.

Yoga
and mind

There are five states of
human mind which are known as Ksipta,
Mudha, Viksipta, Ekagra and Nirodha.

Ksipta,
is a very agitated and disturbed state of mind. Mudha is a state of mind that is comparable to that of a fool. Viksipta is when the mind is in
disturbed state, but is able to think. Ekagra
is a state where one is able to focus in one direction. This state is closer to
the Nirodha state. Nirodha is a state where the mind is
completely absorbed in only one direction for a length of time. To overcome
such situations yoga is only remedy because for the efficacy of the mantra mind
should be under control through which one can concentrate over mantra sadhana.